VivaLasViejas ASN, RN

LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych

Once a nurse, always a nurse!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide

All Content by VivaLasViejas

  1. VivaLasViejas

    new cool sayings

    VivaLasViejas replied to palli's topic in School

    Time, patience, and perseverance will accomplish all
  2. VivaLasViejas

    LPN is it worth it?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Nurse2bNorman's topic in LPN, LVN Corner

    My son, an LPN, had three different job offers before he even graduated from his program. Now he's working for a skilled-care facility that will pay his tuition through ADN school in exchange for...
  3. VivaLasViejas

    Anyone have nightmares?

    VivaLasViejas replied to dec2007's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I still have dreams like that and I retired almost three years
  4. VivaLasViejas

    So nurses, what is our role now? Unity?

    VivaLasViejas replied to murphychen's topic in Activism, Healthcare

    Not to be difficult, but I'd like to remind us all that nurses are not a monolith, and we don't necessarily believe the same things. We support quality patient care; some of us just differ on how that...
  5. VivaLasViejas

    Mental health and night shifts

    VivaLasViejas replied to adw13's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    You have my sympathies. Rotating shifts are hell on most people, and much more so for those of us with mental health issues. You may want to consider looking for another position which doesn't require...
  6. VivaLasViejas

    Should I be a nurse with G.A.D?

    VivaLasViejas replied to jortiz176's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    Hi there, and Welcome to Allnurses! Yes, nursing is likely to make you anxious. The pace is fast and there are lives on the line every day. However---the stress can be manageable if you follow your...
  7. VivaLasViejas

    Not paying license renewal fees on time (random thoughts)

    VivaLasViejas replied to TheCommuter's topic in General Nursing

    I haven't worked as a nurse in two and a half years and probably never will again, but I've still got enough practice hours in the past 5 years to renew my RN license, and I plan to do so. The fee is...
  8. VivaLasViejas

    To take a chance on nursing school or not?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Esther4:14's topic in Pre-Nursing Students

    You more than likely won't know how you feel about nursing until you try it. Even nursing school won't give you the chance to do real-life nursing work, not until you pass the NCLEX and start...
  9. VivaLasViejas

    New nursing student with Bipolar 1 and ADHD

    VivaLasViejas replied to Niquolea26's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    How are you doing now that you've been on meds for a while? I hope they're working for
  10. VivaLasViejas

    WILTW 10/29: Trauma for breakfast

    VivaLasViejas replied to LadyFree28's topic in General Nursing

    It's funny how the name sounds like what happens when our stomachs growl:
  11. VivaLasViejas

    Nursing student with schizophrenia

    VivaLasViejas replied to Mom3g1d78's topic in Nurse Disabilities

    I'm not sure how helpful this is, given the fact that I have bipolar disorder and not your particular diagnoses, but I can say that you are doing fine and that you should keep doing whatever you're...
  12. VivaLasViejas

    Only Crusty Old Bats will remember..

    VivaLasViejas replied to Pepper The Cat's topic in General Nursing

    Giving Demerol and Phenergan (together) IM. Glass Procalamine and lipids bottles. Using needles for IV pushes. Metal bedpans. Paper MARS/TARS. Being able to sit down and chart instead of standing at a...
  13. VivaLasViejas

    For those of you with HAND arthritis

    VivaLasViejas replied to nervousnurse's topic in Retired Nurses

    Maybe this sounds a little extreme, but have you considered filing for Social Security Disability? People can often do at least some work with bad knees, sore backs and so on, but we use our...
  14. VivaLasViejas

    I'M DONE, as in SUCCESSFULLY

    VivaLasViejas replied to SororAKS's topic in Nurses Recovery

    I am absolutely thrilled for you! You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race. I'm so proud of you and the person you've become as a result of your experiences. Thank you for bringing...
  15. VivaLasViejas

    Help....I Can't Take it Anymore! - Nurses Coping with Stress

    VivaLasViejas replied to tnbutterfly - Mary's topic in Health, Stress Management

    I hated 12-hour shifts. It meant absolutely NO other business could be conducted during that 72-hour stretch when all I did was work, eat, and sleep. And the last two hours of a shift were downright...
  16. VivaLasViejas

    WILTW 10/22: ENT and the Priapism

    VivaLasViejas replied to LadyFree28's topic in General Nursing

    I learned that doggie kisses aren't really very sanitary after all. Their mouths contain E. coli and often MRSA, so if you've got any wounds on your skin you may get infected, and even if your skin is...
  17. VivaLasViejas

    Theraputic ideas for patient activities

    VivaLasViejas replied to amwatkins72's topic in Psychiatric

    I'm not a psych nurse, but I have been a patient and the most awesome "therapy" for me was drumming circle. They had all kinds of drums for us to try, and we sat on the floor and played, changing out...
  18. VivaLasViejas

    During Clinicals, What Were You Afraid Of?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Shookclays's topic in General Students

    Yes, many if not most psych units are locked. In fact, I've never been in one that wasn't. (Not that I've been in a lot of them.) This is done to keep patients safe and to minimize distractions. And...
  19. VivaLasViejas

    During Clinicals, What Were You Afraid Of?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Shookclays's topic in General Students

    My psych rotation on a locked unit was pretty scary, but I did just fine once I accepted that I had to do it. I participated in groups and even joined a drumming circle, which was incredibly...
  20. VivaLasViejas

    Disclosing mental health information to board?

    VivaLasViejas replied to Aknurse907's topic in General Nursing

    I had to disclose my bipolar 1 diagnosis on my last renewal application. I wrote that it was well-managed and I would provide documentation from my psychiatrist if they needed it. They renewed my...
  21. VivaLasViejas

    Coworkers discussing my health info

    VivaLasViejas replied to Catcar1963's topic in Patient, Colleague Relations

    I know this sounds like closing the barn door after the horse got out, but in the future you would do well to keep anything personal out of professional relationships. As wrong-headed as it is, people...
  22. VivaLasViejas

    LTC nurse manager burnout? Midlife crisis? Psychosis??!!

    VivaLasViejas replied to Cxy13's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    Well, I'd say you're a little young to be having a midlife crisis, but you're not too young to have a little wanderlust after having worked for one company for ten years. Burnout among management...
  23. VivaLasViejas

    Would you Have Said Something to the Surveyor?

    VivaLasViejas replied to flashpoint's topic in Geriatric, LTC

    I would have insisted (very diplomatically) that she wear her mask properly to avoid spreading her infection. She should have known better; many surveyors are nurses, and the ones who aren't usually...
  24. VivaLasViejas

    Anecdotally, the world conspires against days off.

    VivaLasViejas replied to Guttercat's topic in General Nursing

    I used to live in an apartment complex where they mowed the grass every week. Right under my window. During the day when I was sleeping (or trying to). The worst part was when they'd leave the mower...
  25. VivaLasViejas

    Wearing Scrubs Outside of the Workplace

    VivaLasViejas replied to NewGradRN114's topic in General Nursing

    I'm not a fan of wearing scrubs to run errands in, although I've done it on a few occasions when I worked nights and knew if I went home to change, I'd never go back out. It wasn't so bad when I did...